Cover Crops & Healthy Soils
Milwaukee River Watershed Farmers welcome you to their annual Soil Health and Water Quality workshop February 8th at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds.
Keynote Speaker: Steve Groff and his family has been using cover crops purposely on over 250 acres of their land in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania for more than 35 years. The farm has received both state and national honors for his innovative cropping strategies. Steve will discuss purposeful cover cropping strategies that will improve soil performance, increase profits, and increase land preservation. Learn about:
- Fresh Ideas and Practical Applications for Cover Cropping
- How to Make Cover Crops Pay and Maximize Returns
- Future-Proofing Your Farm so it Doesn't Become Obsolete
For more information and to RSVP (Lunch is included).
TMDL Implementation
Fredonia-Newburg Nonpoint Source Watershed Restoration
Update: Three watershed stakeholder meetings have been conducted. Watershed assessment and data gathering has largely been completed. Water quality data have been assembled and summarized. Numerous sections of the draft watershed plan are being written and assembled. GIS maps, data collection, and GIS analysis (such as developing the green infrastructure network, delineating the subwatershed management units, dividing the stream reaches, etc.) is largely complete.
January 15 Watershed Assessment Meeting - Part 2
The next meeting will focus on water quality modeling (see below).
All are invited to the 4th community meeting for a Fredonia-Newburg Nonpoint Source Watershed Restoration Plan:
- March 12, 9am-11am, at Village of Fredonia, Government Center Board Rm.
Meeting Topic: Water Quality, Initial Modeling Results:
Future meetings will be scheduled every other month (targeting 2nd Tuesday of the month, 9am-11am) to cover the following planning topics:
March 5, 2019 Water Quality, Initial Modeling Results
May 4, 2019 Watershed Goals & Prioritization (Saturday am)
July 9, 2019 Critical Areas and Action Plan
September 10, 2019 Information & Education Plan, Monitoring Plan, & Milestones
November 12, 2019 Presentation of Final Plan
Contact Karen Nenahlo, MMSD Project Manager, for more information.
Ag. Sector Team
DNR staff are conducting a baseline farming survey for agriculture in the Milwaukee River Basin TMDL area. The Milwaukee TMDLs were developed as third-party TMDLs using modeling and data from the SEWRPC Regional Water Quality Planning Initiative for 2020. The simulation period from the study was 1988 - 1997. The land cover data came from a variety of different sources and were processed using a variety of methods. Consequently, the TMDL baseline condition should not be confused with current conditions. DNR Staff are meeting with County Conservation staff to document the common crop rotations, nutrient management, and tillage practices that were employed during that time period, as these have changed significantly. While the baseline numbers are in the TMDL, the actual farming practices were not well documented. By defining the baseline practices, we will be able to:
- compare the percent reductions in the TMDL with current land cover data,
- document contemporary practices that can be used to generate reductions,
- develop SNAP+ data files for typical farming practices and soils in the region,
- and facilitate Water Quality Trading by developing estimates for various practices to generate credits.
References to the baseline analysis are included in the TMDL report and Appendix C, the Decision Memo.
If you are a recipient of a 2019 Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant, this webinar will be helpful in providing information on reimbursements, expectations, DATCP resources, reporting requirements and more. Please view this YouTube link to watch the webinar: click here
An interview with Paul Mitchell, UW Extension Agricultural Economist, explores what farmers can expect for 2019 and gives an overview of the upcoming Wisconsin Agricultural Outlook Forum.
- What can farmers expect in 2019
- Farm Bill changes
- Wisconsin Ag Outlook Forum overview
- Where to find information about the Ag Outlook Forum
You may view the latest post here.
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Monitoring Team
The Monitoring Team met in January to share updates on current and planned monitoring activities for the coming year. The group also brainstormed on the goals for the Monitoring Team, discussed how the Monitoring Team can best meet the needs of the broader community, and how to best facilitate sharing of information and resources to facilitate restoration of designated uses and desisting of impaired waters. The top three goals for the team are:
- Coordination of monitoring activities,
- Sharing monitoring activities,
- and facilitating de-listing.
At our next meeting, we will discuss how the Team can utilize these suggestions to focus our meetings. We will also have an in-depth discussion on the Wisconsin Consolidated Listing and Assessment Methodology (WisCALM) and how listing/delisting protocols would be helpful for the group. Contact Craig Helker for more information.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is seeking public assistance to improve evaluation of the state’s surface water quality. Assistance is requested in two forms: guidance comments and water quality data. The submission period for both runs from January 22 to March 1, 2019.
Guidance Comments
The Wisconsin Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology, known as WisCALM, provides guidance to assess surface water quality and trends against standards set by the Clean Water Act. The methodology is updated for each biennial surface water assessment cycle and the current guidance is being updated for the 2020 cycle.
This year’s updates include:
- An updated definition of the Impaired Waters List and creation of the Restoration Waters List and Healthy Waters List;
- Chlorophyll-a lake listing benchmark and terminology change; and
- Addition of a Quick Link section with links including Wisconsin administrative code, federal guidance documents, and monitoring strategies and protocols among others.
“Wisconsin’s surface water quality is good and improving in many areas, but by updating the technical guidance and maintaining the impaired waters list, the state works to address changes through targeted improvement plans,” said Ashley Beranek, DNR water resources management specialist.
A copy of the draft guidance can be downloaded by clicking on the following link: Draft 2020 WisCALM. For more about these changes, visit dnr.wi.gov and refer to the Water condition assessments & reporting page. Public comments on the latest WisCALM guidance can be submitted to: dnrimpairedwaters@wisconsin.gov or via mail to Ashley Beranek, DNR, Bureau of Water Quality, 101 S. Webster St. WQ/3 Madison, WI 53707.
Surface Water Data
Every two years, the DNR requests that citizens and interested groups submit their surface water data (biological, chemical and physical). Data meeting specified requirements will be evaluated, along with department data, to assess the quality of the state’s water resources and to pinpoint problem areas. In accordance with the Clean Water Act, DNR uses these assessments to prepare a statewide Integrated Water Quality Report (“Integrated Report”), which includes an updated list of impaired waters.
DNR is especially interested in data that:
- Documents improvement due to implementation of pollution control practices;
- Documents healthy waters;
- Supports planning for restoration or protection of waterbodies;
- Identifies public health risks; or
- Is from waterbodies in the Northeast Lakeshore areas, Fox River (Southeast) basin, or Grant, Platte, Sugar or Pecatonica River basins.
To enable DNR to efficiently process the data, a specific data submittal format is used. Data must be submitted electronically and the information must be submitted in specific Excel spreadsheet formats, along with quality assurance documentation. Templates and further instructions are available on the Surface Water Assessments webpage.
Washington and Waukesha Counties are pleased to welcome Cassie Taplin, their new Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator. Cassie is excited to start this position and do some great work stopping the spread of invasive species! She has already reached out to the community to introduce herself and get to know the lake organizationsin the area. Below is her contact information so if you need anything related to AIS please feel free to reach out to her and introduce yourself.
E-mail: cassie.taplin@co.washington.wi.us
Washington County Phone: 262-335-4806
Cell: 262-483-9687
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The Wisconsin Standards Oversight Council and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources have updated the “Rain Gardens – A Guide for Homeowners and Landscapers,” formally known as “Rain Gardens – A How-to Manual.”
The full brochure version and a print-friendly version, and additional rain garden information can be found on the department’s Rain Garden web page.
The guide covers the basics of rain garden sizing and siting, building a functional and beautiful design, appropriate maintenance, and recommended plants.
Sweet Water is seeking a new Executive Director to help the organization realize its mission of restoring the Greater Milwaukee watersheds to conditions that are healthy for swimming and fishing. A suitable candidate will seamlessly integrate his or her passion with sound strategy and the need to engage key partners to achieve this mission. The ideal candidate has a solid resource development strategy in mind with strong leads and connections to revenue sources.
Please find other desired attributes and qualifications in the attached position description. For full consideration of this position, please send all required materials as one combined document to SWWT@leadingtransitions.com. All materials must be submitted no later than 5:00 pm CT on Friday, February 8, 2019.
SWWT Executive Director Position Description
Milwaukee Water Commons is a cross-city network that fosters connection, collaboration and broad community leadership on behalf of our waters. We promote stewardship of, equitable access to and shared decision-making for our common waters.
Join us April 11th for our Confluence and learn about progress made in our 6 initiative areas that make up the Water City Agenda. This event is all about celebrating successes, inviting new leadership and coming together around a plan for Milwaukee's water future. For more information;
Milwaukee Water Commons
1845 N Farwell Ave Suite 100, Milwaukee WI 53202
email: staff@milwaukeewatercommons.org
phone: 414-763-6199
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Urban Nonpoint Source & Storm Water (UNPS&SW) Planning Grant Applications for planning projects beginning in 2020 are now available on the DNR’s UNPS&SW webpage.
Cities, villages, towns, counties, regional planning commissions, tribal governments and special purpose lake, sewage, or sanitary districts have until April 15, 2019 to submit applications for 2020 planning projects. Urban Nonpoint Source Construction grant applications will not be solicited in 2019 but will be solicited again in 2020.
This grant program offers local governments competitive grants to control pollution that is carried by storm water runoff from diffuse urban sources. The grants reimburse costs of planning projects that control this type of pollution. Eligible planning projects include:
- Storm water management planning for urban areas;
- Preparation of local ordinances affecting storm water discharge
- Evaluation of alternatives for local financing of urban runoff control programs;
- Administrative costs for initial establishment of local storm water management funding programs; and
- Public information and education activities.
A webinar for this grant program is scheduled on Feb. 25, noon to 1:30 p.m. The webinar offers an overview of the UNPS-Planning grant program, what's changed since the last grant cycle, and what makes a good planning project. Click here (exit DNR) to register for the webinar.
New Stormwater Specialist
We are pleased to introduce our new storm water specialist, Samantha (Sam) Katt. Samantha has MS4 compliance responsibilities for Sheboygan, Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Walworth, Racine, and Kenosha. Sam holds a Master of Science in Freshwater Sciences and Technology with an emphasis in Freshwater Management and Policy from the UW-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences. During her graduate studies, Samantha worked for the City of Milwaukee Environmental Collaboration Office as the original developer of the City’s Green Infrastructure Plan. Samantha’s most recent experience is as a Project Manager for Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust (Sweet Water). It should come as no surprise that she loves being outdoors- hiking, camping, and visiting National Parks.
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WPDES Permits
Since approved last March, DNR Wastewater staff have been drafting WPDES permits for point sources, consistent with TMDL Water Quality Based Effluent Limits (WQBELs). So far, three permits have been issued, and another two permits are out for public comment. Staff will continue to draft permits as they expire. However, if a facility wishes, it may be possible to modify an existing permit to facilitate planning.
"WQBEL: Water quality-based effluent limitations are calculated in order to insure that discharges to waters of the state are in compliance with water quality standards. Water quality standards include water quality criteria (such as those in chs. NR 102, 104, and 105 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code), use designations or classifications of the state’s waters (examples include fish and aquatic life uses, public water supplies, recreational uses, outstanding or exceptional resource waters), and antidegradation provisions to address new or increased discharges to waters of the state. All of these standards are considered together in order to protect Wisconsin’s aquatic life, wildlife, and human health from the effects associated with the discharge of toxic (poisonous) and organoleptic (adverse impacts on sensory organs) substances to the state’s surface waters."
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Grants
Interested Water Resources Investigators: As a result of the complexity of an administrative approval process and the prolonged government shutdown, we are on a relatively tight deadline to accept preproposals for the 2019 National Institutes for Water Resources Competitive Grants Program. We (UW, USGS) truly apologize for the brevity of the period for the call, but we are constrained by the terms of the call that state “Preproposals must be submitted to your State Institute or Center by 5:00 PM, Eastern Time (4:00 PM Central Time), February 15, 2018”. Please look through the attached call for proposals to determine if you are interested in submitting and meeting the deadline.
Please make sure you do the following:
1. Use Attachment A in the attached Call for Proposals to construct your preproposal. There is a 4-page limit (not including references).
2. Create a pdf file of your preproposal and email it to Melissa Boyce (maboyce@wisc.edu) by 4 PM Central on Friday, February 15. We need a timestamp that your proposal was received on time, so the email to Melissa serves as a submission check. We will confirm (reply) that your preproposal was received on time.
"The U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the National Institutes for Water Resources requests proposals for matching grants to support research on the topic of improving and enhancing the nation’s water supply, including evaluation of innovative approaches to water treatment, infrastructure design, retrofitting, maintenance, management, and replacement; exploration and advancement of our understanding of changes in the quantity and quality of water resources in response to a changing climate, population shifts, and land use changes; development of methods for better estimation of water supply, both surface and groundwater, including estimation of the physical supply and of the economic supply of water; development and evaluation of processes and governance mechanisms for integrated surface/ground water management; and the evaluation and assessment of conservation practices." Full Grant Application
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